Syrians pour into the streets during cease fire to protest Assad rule

Hundreds of thousands of Syrians took to the streets of every major city to protest the rule of Bashar Assad. The shaky cease fire - which appears to be holding despite the government's failure to abide by its conditions - has encouraged citizens to go into the streets to demonstrate.Unfortunately, some things don't change. Syrian forces fired on peaceful protestors in Hama, killing at least three people.

Security forces were out in strength to control the anti-Assad rallies, demanding protesters obtain permits for the right to rally in the streets.

The advance team is "standing by to board planes and to get themselves on the ground as soon as possible" in anticipation that the UN security council will grant approval for the mission, Annan's spokesman Ahmad Fawzi told a news conference in Geneva on Friday.

A contingent of 10 to 12 people UN observers are ready to board a plane to Syria, the spokesman for Annan said on Friday.

Syrian forces tightened security in public squares and around mosques.

Another protester was shot dead after leaving a mosque to join anti-Assad protests in the village of Nawa, in the southern province of Daraa, the Observatory said.

The Annan plan allows the Syrian people to hold peaceful protests.

Syrian forces also killed a man in the town of Salqin, in the northwestern province of Idlib near the Turkish border, as troops loyal to Assad attempt to clear rebels out of the area, the Observatory added.

Government forces deployed tanks to the village of Kherbet Joz, near the border of Turkey, where there has been heavy gunfire, the anti-Assad committees reported.

The government was supposed to remove tanks and artillery from cities and towns across the country, but have failed to do so. They were also supposed to remove troops but have yet to show much movement.

It seems unlikely that the peace will be kept much longer by either side.

Hundreds of thousands of Syrians took to the streets of every major city to protest the rule of Bashar Assad. The shaky cease fire - which appears to be holding despite the government's failure to abide by its conditions - has encouraged citizens to go into the streets to demonstrate.

Security forces were out in strength to control the anti-Assad rallies, demanding protesters obtain permits for the right to rally in the streets.

The advance team is "standing by to board planes and to get themselves on the ground as soon as possible" in anticipation that the UN security council will grant approval for the mission, Annan's spokesman Ahmad Fawzi told a news conference in Geneva on Friday.

A contingent of 10 to 12 people UN observers are ready to board a plane to Syria, the spokesman for Annan said on Friday.

Syrian forces tightened security in public squares and around mosques.

Another protester was shot dead after leaving a mosque to join anti-Assad protests in the village of Nawa, in the southern province of Daraa, the Observatory said.

The Annan plan allows the Syrian people to hold peaceful protests.

Syrian forces also killed a man in the town of Salqin, in the northwestern province of Idlib near the Turkish border, as troops loyal to Assad attempt to clear rebels out of the area, the Observatory added.

Government forces deployed tanks to the village of Kherbet Joz, near the border of Turkey, where there has been heavy gunfire, the anti-Assad committees reported.

The government was supposed to remove tanks and artillery from cities and towns across the country, but have failed to do so. They were also supposed to remove troops but have yet to show much movement.

It seems unlikely that the peace will be kept much longer by either side.